Sir Keir Starmer’s mission and strategy as Leader of the Opposition are unclear ahead of May’s local elections, a Labour councillor has said.
Penny Wrout, councillor for Hackney’s Victoria ward, called on Starmer to provide some political vision to boost his and Labour’s hopes of winning in May and the 2024 general election.
Starmer found himself 13 points behind in the latest YouGov opinion poll last week as the successful vaccine rollout and a popular Budget boosted the Conservatives.
The Labour leader has come under criticism from corners of his own party for appearing not to have a political direction. Those on the left of the party cite his non-criticism of the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wrout, who has been a councillor since 2018, compared the running of a political party to “like business management”.
“He has faced increasing hostility in recent months from Labour members”
“In business,” she told Hackney Post, “you have a kind of a vision and a mission and a strategy…and your vision and your mission are strong pointers as to exactly where you’re going.
“I don’t feel that clear that I understand what Starmer’s vision and mission are.”
Starmer and his deputy leader Angela Rayner are holding a virtual launch event for Labour’s May elections campaign on Thursday 11 March. Ahead of the event Starmer said: “We’re working hard to rebuild trust. There’s a long way to go but I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. This is a different Labour Party, under new leadership and we’re making a different offer to the British people.”
In a speech last month titled Reform and Unite, Starmer called for “unity”. He said that “Our party is divided, and united requires reconciliation” in a perceived olive branch to those members Jeremy Corbyn had attracted.
Starmer became Labour leader in April 2020. He has faced increasing hostility in recent months from Labour members impatient with his inability to alter the political narrative.
“Personally I think he’s right not to be too specific about policy at the moment.”
Ash Sarkar, Labour activist and journalist, has been strongly critical of the leader, saying on Twitter that “he [Starmer] goes capering after the votes of 5 home-owning swing voters, [while] the young are virtually ignored.”
It is a view that reflects the polarised nature of the party at present.
While Wrout is critical of Starmer’s vision and values, she agrees with the leader’s decision to keep his cards close to his chest regarding policy. “Personally I think he’s right not to be too specific about policy at the moment.
“We’re not actually sure what the world is going to look like when we come out of this crisis. The party needs to be fleet of foot with policies that suit the world.”
